Southern Business Journal by The Southern Illinoisan

January 2015

what are your GOALS

The new year is a great time to take a snapshot look at your business COVER STORY PAGE 4

January 2015

Southern Business Journal

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Fine Print Building permits

Bankruptcies

Carbondale‌

Chapter 7‌

Emily Russell, 308 S. Cedarview St., $24,485 Barbara Knight, 518 N. Oakland Ave. $6,100 Milton Maxwell, 1022 W. Willow St., $40,000 Amelia Sobery, 505 W. Pecan St., $33,000 Frank Tebow, 613 N. Springer St., $33,000 Gary Austin, 3035 W. Alveria Drive, $225,000 RP Coatings, 150 E. Miller Court, $915, 724 Mueller Trust, 927 W. Walnut St., $14,000 Robert Buffington, 923 N. Hunter Woods Ave., $20,000 Domino’s Pizza, 887 E. Grand Ave., $114,000 William McCutchen, 1039 N. Wall St., $4,000

Marion‌

Adam And Sarah Lawler, 107 S. Sycamore Lane, $102,291.74 Greg Kwasniewski, 1114 Folgers, $218,000 Jerry Vaughn, 703 S. Mechanic St., $80,000 Tesha Williams, 811 W. Hendrickson St., $4,000 Dane Castellano, 1007 W. Union St., $115,000 Frankie Logsdon, 905 S. Bentley St., $15,000

Metropolis‌

Joshua Reagor, 1805 Ferry St., $3,000

Mount Vernon ‌

Convenient Care, 602 S. 42nd St., $40,900 Lindsay Burris, 1820 Waltonville Road, $1,174 Kyle and Casey Lonas, 1130 Belaire, $1,269 Richard Mollet, 421 S. 20th St., $2,800 Josie McCoy Fundraiser, two locations, $0 Vanex/PPG, 1701 Shawnee, $98,637 ATT/RJV of Mount Vernon (cell tower), 7 Cusumano Plaza, $10,000 Rob and Christa Payne, 3600 E. Bishop Road, $269,000 Kirlin’s Hallmark, 415-B S. 42nd St., $500 Gary Bradshaw, 512 Broadway, $2,000 Harmony Roses Chorus (event), five locations, $0 Martin and Bayley (Huck’s), 540 Fairfield Road, $2,400

Murphysboro‌

Laura Halleran, $1,500 Mark Rhodes, 7 Louis Wides Drive, $11,000 Mark Martin, 1903 Minton, St., $4,600 Mike Baird, 2124 Dewey St., $12,000 Thirteen RF, 1510 N. Seventh St., $1,300,000

Gigi G. Kahtz, 3205 Peach St., Mount Vernon Steven M. and Cameo H. Ellis, 11071 N. Triton Lane, Mount Vernon Jacob R. Kiefer, 111 Circle Drive, McLeansboro Barbara G. Beggs, 1105 Monroe Ave., Johnston City Samuel G. Beggs, 317 E. Poplar, Suite B, P.O. Box 486, Harrisburg Garrett W. Cirttendon, 19 W. Lincoln St., Harrisburg Trisha L McGuire, 5550 Arctic Fox Drive, Carterville Jacklyn Lucille Dukes, 311 S. Douglas St., McLeansboro Rhonda K. Baker, 1503 Trout St., Johnston City Charles H. and Betty L. Owens, 9270 E. Sienna Road, Waltonville Kelleigh Ann Hirsch 608 Pear St., Mount Vernon Jonna R. Dahlgren, 621 S. Seventh St., Herrin Laura Elizabeth Sims, 308 E. Chester St., Pinckneyville Melvin and Barbara Coffey, 1382 W. Stacey Road, Richview Michael W. and Aimie J. Taylor, P.O. Box 114, Anna Sabrina L. Wilkerson, 817 Maple St., Mount Vernon Lisa M.Easley, 102 E. Illinois 15, Bluford James Michael and Linda Rhea Little, P.O. Box 353, Brookport David L. and Linda L. Allen, 601 S. Main St., Jonesboro Mary Kay Campbell, 421 Murphy St., Murphysboro Arelia Inez Bradley, 612 E. Campus Drive, A1, Carbondale Cathy Nadine Porter, 233 N. 13th St. Apt. 706, Murphysboro Richard S. Morgan, 694 Vaughn Road, Carterville Jennifer Nichole Allen, 11685 W. Cyprus, Carbondale Roger Franklin and Dawn Lee Williams, 1305 First St., Eldorado Penny Marie Cooper, 1103 E. Elm St., West Frankfort Connie Sue Russell, 400 Pennsylvania Ave., Carterville Marilyn Kay McClellan, 504 S. Duncan, Marion Edna L. Chapman, c/o Irene Overturf, P.O. Box 262, Sesser Michael Ray and Rylie Jane Wheeler, 404 East St. Carmi Bryan S. Easton, 2041 Clarke St., Murphysboro Dena R. Hyde, 1106 S. Penberton Drive, Marion

Beth A. Robertson, 1544 Cardinal Road, Carbondale David Lee Fitzpatrick, 175 Triple S. Road, Harrisburg Edwin K. and Grace Edna Herman, 1358 Skelcher Blvd., Makanda Charles Thomas Kelly Jr. and Kay Frances Kelly, 12927 Sunrise Drive, Sparta Jeffery and Diane S. Grimes, P.O. Box 232, Metropolis Brent R. Perry, 1208 Glendale St., Benton Shariff S. Shakir, 414 S. Gay St., Carbondale Robert G. and Terri L. Poplin, 713 Maple St., Carmi Michael Ray Lance, 1994 Liberty Road, Pulaski Edith Dawn Fluty, 922 W. Fourth St., Mount Carmel John E. and Mary A. Brown, 1309 E. Main, West Frankfort Holly G. Gold, 547 Douglas Landing, Grand Chain Jonathan W. and Michelle D. Reed, 1102 Bailey Lane, Benton James G. and Steveny J. Henderson, 1630 Telephone Road, Galatia Donald W. and Drema M. Deisher, 38 Lambert Drive, Mount Carmel Brian M. and Andrea N. Trent. 832 W. Grant Ave., Carterville Jodie L. Davis, 4010 Hitt Road, Tamaroa Constance Eileen Cook, 1998 New Lake Road, Thompsonville Kelsie J. Johnson, 703 W. High St., Apt. A, Carbondale Mary Jane Myers, 60 CR 2050 North, Springerton James R. Lawrence, 1116 Washington Ave., Johnston City Brandan S. and Jessica D. Patterson, 1227 Chestnut St., Mount Carmel

Makanda Helen J. Duty, 375 Wells St., Murphysboro Charles E. Hamlin, 12 S. McKinley St., Harrisburg Terry Lynn and Lisa Kay Johnson, 404 N. Fourth, Vienna Lyle D. and Patricia A. Newell, 14593 Paulton Road, Pittsburg Gregory Alan Murray, 2010 Minton St., Murphysboro James Matt and Trisha L. Burnett, P.O. Box 552, Royalton Donald R. Fredrick, 902 Otter Slough Road, Gorham Christopher M. Gilomen, 11293 Nora Lane, Carterville Donna Darlene Snow, 13155 Idlewood Road, Mount Vernon Keith R. and Lindsey M. Gibson, 1100 N. 16th St., Herrin Billy G. and Patricia A. Lane, R.R. 1, Box 281A, Cave-In-Rock Kimberley R. Lowe, 424 32nd St., Cairo Tabetha M. Long, 2145 Ivywood Terrace, Apt. B, Scott Air Force Base Shona Garner, 808 W. Hendrickson, Marion Nicole Cast, 516 N. Main St., Anna Daniel P. Gentz Sr. and Lisa K. Gentz, 2313 Spring Lane, Marion Ronotta J. Hooks, 1301 N. Wall St., Carbondale Gustavo Medina, 917 W. Cherry, Marion Herman F. Beck, P.O. Box 302, Pinckneyville Jennifer L. King, 1333 W. Longley St., Harrisburg Matthew D. and Kenna R. Miller, 9236 Prior Road, Dix Bethany A. Brown, P.O. Box 176, Olmsted Bruce A. Morehead Jr., 107 E. Sixth St., Metropolis Ira L. Cook, 723 Maple St., Murphysboro James A. and Susan L. Rowley, 508 S. 24th St., Herrin Matthew P. Young and Rebecca A. Young, P.O. Chapter 13‌ Box 182, Wayne City Martha C. Hubble, 203 Wildrose Lane, Marion Ramona Lynn Cox, 11217 Husband Road, Jeremy R. Davis and Amanda R. Phillips, 7500 Marion Route 37S, Marion Cheryl L. James, 14470 Cambria Road, Jennifer R. Lang, 2688 Tick Ridge Road, Carterville Grand Chain James Earl Haney, 725 Madison St., Du Quoin Rea S. Porter, 410 S. Walnut St., Sesser Leslie Nicole Alvis, 439 S. Walnut, Tamaroa Teresa Sobolewski, 505 W. Florence St., David A. and Lori Killgrove, 32596 Grapevine Sesser Trail, McClure Michael A. and Shannon M. Plonka, 104 N. Tina S. Acree, 413 Pennsylvania Ave., Mound Pecan St., Apt. 11, De Soto City Brian K. and Virgie L. Paton, P.O. Box 822, Morris Greer, 814 N. Marion St., Carbondale Shawneetown Charles E. and Carol A. Lacy, 25 Brad W. Boender, 19 S. Webster, Harrisburg Chamnesstown Road, Elkville Paula L. Moore, 609 S. Ledford St., Harrisburg Kenneth E. and Paula Jo Ellis, 61 Chickasaw Sandra L. Doty, 14816 Old Frankfort Road, Drive, McClure Marion Joseph D. Demilta Jr., 14206 Illinois 34, Jontae T. Nelson, 221 27th St., Cairo Benton Dwain D. Forby, 72 Whippoorwhill Lane,

Southern Business Journal

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January 2015

Southern Business Journal

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Achievements been named acting director of the Carbondale Montessori Center. Cunningham graduated from SIU with a bachelor’s degree McMillan named in education and Ashford Unidirector of operations versity with a master’s degree in education. She resides in ‌Marra McMillan has been named director of operations for Metropolis. Carbondale Montessori Baptist Health Medical Group. Center provides quality care McMillan has served the last for children ages 2 through 12. 10 years as coordinator of BaptistWorx occupational medicine. For more information, call 618She received a bachelor’s degree 529-3223 or email kellyrae03@ hotmail.com. from Murray State University and a master’s degree in public health from Eastern Kentucky Nordsieck joins University. and CEO of First Eldorado Bancshares, holding company of Legence Bank.

cardiac team

Fitton joins Illinois News Network ‌ ark Fitton, an awardM winning journalist with a long history in Illinois, has joined the reporting staff of the Illinois News Network. Fitton will cover the Illinois Statehouse for ilnews.org and INN’s various news partners. A native of Spring Valley, Fitton has a bachelor’s degree in English from Illinois State University and master’s degree in public affairs reporting from the University of Illinois at Springfield, formerly Sangamon State University. Fitton last worked as managing editor of The Southern Illinoisan in Carbondale. He has won several awards as a writer and editor, most recently helping guide The Southern to several wins in deadline and non-deadline news coverage.

Norton hired as associate attorney

director for crisis services at Centerstone, has been invited to participate in the Zero Suicide Learning Collaborative, sponsored by the Education Development Center and the Suicide Prevention Resource Center. The Collaborative brings together suicide prevention professionals from innovator organizations and state agencies for peer-to-peer learning in suicide prevention, guided by a Zero Suicide faculty member. Saxon directs crisis services for the Centerstone Crisis Center at 403 Commerce Drive in Carterville.

‌Eric Nordsieck, M.D., recently joined Good Samaritan Regional Health Center’s cardiac team. Nordsieck received his medical training in the Midwest and has even served patients in this area before. His office is at St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Medical Group Heart & Vascular Group at 2 Good Samaritan Way in Mount Vernon. He can be reached at 618-899-3900.

Elite Travel recognized as top performer

Bromley joins Mercy Primary Care

‌Stacey Ballard of Murphysboro won the Ag Ambassador Award for her work on behalf of animals at the 36th annual employee luncheon and awards ceremony for the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s Galesburg Animal Disease Lab. Among the employees recognized during the Dec. 11 ceremony were those for milestone years of service. Michael Stearns of Makanda was honored for 35 years, and David Dosher of Enfield was honored for 30 years.

‌Stacy Bromley, a physician assistant, has joined Mercy Primary Care. Bromley is seeing patients in the Lourdes Marshall Nemer Pavilion at 1532 Lone Oak Road, Suite 150, in Paducah. She can be reached at 270-538-5596.

Centerstone recognizes McClure, Saxon

‌Cathy McClure, a therapist for Centerstone, recently received ‌Rachelle Norton has been hired licensure as a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). as an associate attorney with McClure provides counseling Southern Illinois Law Center, services out of Centerstone’s LLC, in Carbondale. West Frankfort office, specialShe is a May graduate of SIU izing in therapy for young chilSchool of Law and resides in dren. Centerstone, formerly The Jackson County. H Group, offers comprehensive behavioral health services in Acting director named Southern Illinois. Verletta Saxon, assistant ‌Kelly Rae Cunningham has

‌ lite Travel, Inc. in Cape E Girardeau has been recognized as a consecutive gold member of the Funjet Vacations 500 Club for 2014. Carolyn Sandgren-Kempf is president of Elite Travel, Inc.

Ballard wins Ag Ambassador Award

SI Technology opens new office ‌ outhern Illinois Technology S recently opened in the Business Resource Group Building at 809 S. Division St. in Carterville. The computer services business offers PC repair, networking, general technology service and education, as well as many

Boys and Girls Club of Carbondale Business of the Month

The Boys & Girls Club of Carbondale is pleased to announce Cook Portable Warehouses as their Business of the Month for December 2014!

online business development tools such as websites, email marketing and social media services. Logan Johnson is owner. For more information, visit www. Soilltechnology.com or call 618521-8100.

new stores, many existing stores are undergoing remodeling. The most recent store to receive an upgrade was the one in Du Quoin. The Sparta store is next on the list. Holly Kruep is president and CEO.

Business relocates to Carterville

Ruzich attends realtor course

‌Family Foot & Ankle Center has relocated to 807 S. Division St. in Carterville. Dr. Melinda Moore, the owner, is a graduate of John A. Logan College, SIU and Rosalind Franklin University School of Podiatric Medicine and Science. She completed a three-year podiatric medical and surgical residency program in Chicago before opening her practice in Herrin. She recently moved her office from Herrin to her hometown of Carterville.

‌Cheryl Ruzich, owner and managing broker of Pisoni Real Estate in Herrin, recently attended a course of advanced education for professional real estate agents. Ruzich participated in the Graduate Realtor Institute of Illinois during the first week of December in Peoria. She completed course II of the institute, which examines specialized areas of real estate practice.

RollnUp stores open in Franklin County

Hutson elected board chairman

‌Paducah attorney R. Christion “Chris” Hutson recently began ‌Two RollnUp Smoke Shop and a two-year term as chairman of the board of directors for Baptist Liquor stores recently opened Health system, a seven-hospital in Benton and West Frankfort. There are now 13 RollnUp stores system based in Louisville, Kentucky. It includes Baptist in Southern Illinois. Health Paducah. In addition to the opening of

Southern Business Journal

January 2015

Achievements Carson speaks at conference ‌Pinckneyville Community Hospital Chief Financial Officer Kara Jo Carson participated in a panel discussion Nov. 14 at the Southern Illinois Chapter Healthcare Financial Management Association Fall Conference. Carson has 19 years of experience in the health care financial field. She has been employed with Pinckneyville Community Hospital since graduating with her Master of Accountancy Degree from SIU in 1995.

Sanders sworn is as licensed Illinois attorney ‌ avid Sanders of Marion was D sworn in Nov. 6 by Justice Lloyd Karmeier of the Illinois Supreme Court as a newly licensed Illinois attorney. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois and received his Juris Doctor in May from SIU. He is a third generation Southern Illinois attorney, joining his father, John W. Sanders, his late grandfathers, James W. Sanders and George E. Morgan, and his uncle, J. Lawrence

Sanders in the practice of law. Sanders is employed by the Illinois Supreme Court, serving as a staff attorney for Karmeier. He is the son of John and Amy Sanders of Marion.

Wheeler achieves advanced practitioner designation

‌Ann Wheeler of Wheeler Therapeutic Massage in Carbondale has achieved the designation of advanced practitioner of Barnes Myofascial Release. Wheeler has completed over 200 hours of coursework, including hands-on instruction and clinical time, most recently attending Myofascial Release III and Subtle Energy I in Sedona, Arizona. She earned a bachelor’s degree in athletic training and has practiced as a physical therapist assistant since 1986. She is a licensed massage therapist in private practice and may be reached at 618-201-2938.

Bjelich named ‘CEO to Know’ ‌Saint Francis Healthcare System President and Chief

Executive Officer Steven C. Bjelich has been named to a list of 130 non-profit hospital and health systems CEOs to Know by Becker’s Hospital Review, released Nov. 20. Bjelich has led Saint Francis Healthcare System since 1999. He has 38 years of health care experience at the senior management level.

Complete Family Eyecare relocates

administration from Murray State University.

Central Illinois Loans honored ‌Central Illinois Loans has been selected for the 2014 Best of Marion Award in the Credit Intermediation category by the Marion Award Program. The Marion Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements of local businesses throughout the Marion area.

‌Complete Family Eyecare recently relocated to 3121 S. Park Ave. in Herrin. Firm completes Complete Family Eyecare is owned by Dr. Chase Rudolph and successful peer review can be reached at 618-942-5465 ‌Barnett & Levine has successor www.drchaserudolph.com. fully completed a rigorous peer review of its accounting and auditing practice. Green joins The Carbondale-based MidCountry Bank firm, which provides accounting, auditing and tax services, ‌Bret Green has been named branch manager of MidCountry participates in the peer review program, a practice-monitoring Bank in Metropolis. program approved by the AmerGreen comes to MidCountry ican Institute of Certified Public Bank with more than 10 years Accountants. of experience in banking and management. He most recently served as a branch manager Women’s clinic opens for Regions Bank, and holds a bachelor’s degree in business ‌Heartland Women’s

Healthcare, an obstetrics and gynecology practice with locations across Southern Illinois, has begun seeing patients at Marshall Browning Hospital, 900 N. Washington St., in Du Quoin. Starting this month, the clinic is open every Tuesday. Dr. Mandy Carroll and midwife Carrissia Holloway are the main providers at the clinic. Heartland Women’s Healthcare is a comprehensive practice that oversees the total health of women in all phases of life. The practice has 20 locations, which house 28 providers, including 17 physicians, five nurse midwives and six nurse practitioners.

Legence Bank corporate office opens ‌Legence Bank recently opened its new corporate office at the corner of U.S. 45 and Illinois 142 in Eldorado. “We are delighted to celebrate the completion of the Legence Bank corporate office, to share our substantial investment in Eldorado and to demonstrate our continued commitment to the Southern Illinois community,” said Martin B. Rowe, president

FACES IN THE NEWS Have you been promoted? Send a photo. Has a colleague at work completed an intensive continuing Carson education program? Send a photo. Others in the business community will want to know it, so please consider passing on your employment news and photos to the Southern Business Journal. Feel free to email the Cunningham information to sbj@ thesouthern.com.

Sanders

Wheeler

Bjelich

McMillan

Fitton

Norton

Nordsieck

Bromley

McClure

Saxon

Sandgren-Kempf

Hutson

January 2015

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Southern Business Journal

January 2015

Investments

Disability insurance protects small-business assets SBJ CONTRIBUTOR SCOTT MCCLATCHEY‌

‌If you are like most small-business owners, you have probably insured your life, your business, your house and your medical needs. But what about your ability to earn a living? Doing without long-term disability coverage can be risky business for entrepreneurs. Why? Because disability insurance policies protect a critical asset — your income. If you were McClatchey to become disabled even for a relatively short period of time, say a year or two, the combination of lost income plus the cost of coping with your disability could represent a significant financial hardship. Not convinced?

Consider these statistics: zz Just over one in four of today’s 20-year-olds will become disabled before reaching age 67.‌ zz More than 50 percent of disabled Americans are in their working years, from 18 to 64.‌ zz A typical, healthy, nonsmoking 35-year-old male or female has a roughly one-in-five chance of becoming disabled for three months or longer during his or her working career. Further, each has a 38 percent chance of the disability lasting five years or longer, with an average disability lasting 82 months.‌ If you were unlucky enough to become one of these statistics, your family could be forced to shoulder the burden of your potential disability alone.

who work at home may find it more difficult to obtain coverage because injuries tend to occur more often in a home setting rather than in an office environment. Further, some insurance carriers won’t issue policies for owners of new companies who don’t have a two-year earnings history with their enterprise. In general, your ability to obtain coverage, your premium payments and potential benefits will depend on your line of business, your salary, your age and your medical history.

What to look for in a policy

If you are considering disability insurance, keep these factors in mind as you review policies: zz How does the policy define a disability? The most comprehensive policies become effective if you can’t earn a living Issues for business owners You should be aware that certain factors in your profession, although you typically can affect an entrepreneur’s ability to get can obtain lesser coverage if you become unable to do any job.‌ disability insurance. For example, those

zz How long must you wait before collecting benefits? Many policies have a waiting period ranging from several months to two years. Typically, the longer the waiting period, the less expensive the policy will be.‌ zz How much of your income will the coverage replace? Approximately 60 to 70 percent of total taxable earnings is typically replaced, although caps apply for certain occupations.‌ SCOTT MCCLATCHEY is a certified financial planner with Alliance Investment Planning Group, a Carbondale investment firm located at 115 S. Washington St. He can be reached at 618-519-9344 or scott@ allianceinvestmentplanning.com. He also provides investment, retirement planning and insurance services to SIU Credit Union members through the SIU Credit Union Investment Services partnership. Securities offered through LPL Financial, member FINRA/SIPC.

We are thankful at the end of 2014 Recently, an article in Seeking Alpha stated that energy was 11 percent of the S&P 500. Thus, lower energy prices ben‌There is a lot for investors and families efit almost 90 percent of the economy. Transportation, retail, chemical and in Southern Illinois to be thankful for. hospitality companies really like the We are thankful that the price of oil lower energy prices. has declined. This We are also thankful that energy has caused the prices have, perhaps, stabilized as of price of gasoline now. As much as families benefit, I think to decline from an if energy prices go much lower, it will average price the hurt the energy exploration that is going last three years of above $3.50/gallon on in Southern Illinois and maybe stress to below $2.50/gal- some of the coal companies we have here. We like lower energy prices, but lon. Statemaster. many of these are good jobs in our area. com recently pubWe are thankful that another election lished “Gasoline Tison has come and gone. Freedom and liberty consumption (per capita) by state” and stated the per cap- and the ability to choose our representatives are some of the things that make ita gasoline consumption in the United our country great. We are also glad when States is just above 300 gallons. Southern Illinoisans probably even drive more. elections are over, though, because they are messy, expensive and annoying With most families having two drivers, the average family is saving over $600 a at times. We are thankful for the men and year. That is just like an overdue tax cut women who have served our country. many families can benefit from. MICHAEL P. TISON SBJ CONTRIBUTOR‌

Freedom and liberty are not free, but we are free because of the great service many have given to our country. We are thankful for pensions and 401(k) plans. Being self-sufficient in retirement is part of the personal responsibility that most Southern Illinoisans believe in. A long career sacrificing some current income to save for the future, whether through the state system or private sector, gives our seniors dignity in retirement. It also prevents your parents from moving in with you. We are thankful the United States has the best health care in the world. It is not perfect, probably somewhat inefficient; but, no matter what you read, you never hear of a Third World general going to Cuba for surgery. The editors, writers and politicians who stated last year that Cuba has better health care than the United States should now be able to get there easier, since some travel restrictions have been lifted. We are thankful when a community

invests in its future. One way this is done is by building affordable schools for our children to attend. They don’t need palaces like they have in Chicago, but they don’t deserve the have the ceilings falling in either. We are thankful for our families, friends and clients. We are thankful for holiday parties, especially ones where you bring a toy or a gift. This material is being provided for information purposes only and not a complete description, nor is it a recommendation, to buy or sell any investment. Investing involves risk, and you may incur a profit or loss, regardless of strategy selected. Any opinions are those of Michael P. Tison and not necessarily of Raymond James. MICHAEL P. TISON is a registered principal /financial advisor with Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. He can be reached at 618253-4444. Raymond James has offices in Marion and Harrisburg.

January 2015

Southern Business Journal

| 9

Calendar ‌Jan. 13 and 22: Free “Starting Your Own Business” workshops at Shawnee Community College provide information about starting or expanding a business, including legal structure, start-up requirements, financing options and business-plan development. Upcoming workshops are from 1 to 3 p.m. Jan 13 at SCC, main campus; and from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 22, metro center. Registration is required. Call 618-6343213 to register. Jan. 14: Registration is now open for the 2015 University of Illinois Corn and Soybean Classics, which includes a program on Jan. 14 at Mount Vernon Holiday Inn. The program will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and feature eight presentations that emphasize crop production, pest management, economics and the interactions among them. A noon lunch and a proceedings booklet containing synopses of all presentations will be provided to each registrant. Cost for onsite registration is $75. To register, visit www.cropsciconferences.com. For

more information, call 800-321-1296 or 217-333-4424. Jan. 22: Upcoming computer workshops offered by Rend Lake College include “Beginning Microsoft Word” from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Jan. 22 and Feb. 7; “Beginning Microsoft Excel” from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 3 and March 21; and “Beginning Quickbooks” from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Fridays, Feb. 6 through 27. Scheduling is subject to change. To register or for more information, call 618-437-5321, ext. 2000, or visit www.rlc.edu/ computerworkshops. Jan. 27: A free workshop, “Identity Theft and Data Breaches,” will be offered from 10 to 11 a.m. Jan. 27 at the Workforce and Illinois Small Business Development Center (WISBDC) at Southeastern Illinois College in Harrisburg. Attendees will learn how to avoid and respond to identity theft as well as data breaches. A representative from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office will explain the requirements for businesses under the Illinois Personal

Information Protection Act. Guidance for strong data-security practices will be provided. Also included in the discussion will be how to prepare for and respond to a security breach. To register or for more information, contact Debbie Hadfield at 618-252-5001, ext. 5, or debbie.hadfield@sic.edu.

Feb. 28: Rend Lake College will offer a free “Starting Your Business in Illinois” workshop from 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 28 in room 338 at RLC MarketPlace in Mount Vernon. To register or for more information, call the SBDC at 618-2425813 or email lemayn@rlc.edu or mowrer@rlc. edu. March 3 to April 2: A five-week course, “Operation JumpStart: First Step,” will be offered on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from March 3 to April 2 at Shawnee Community College in Ullin. The course is designed for individuals interested in starting or expanding a small business. Class will meet from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Business and Industry Training Center. There is a $25 enrollment fee, which includes all materials. Registration is required and can be completed through the Illinois Small Business Development Center. Contact Gabriele Farner at 618-634-3254 or gabrielef@shawneecc.edu no later than Feb. 24. Seating is limited, so early registration is encouraged.

SOUTHERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

JANUARY 2015

Workplace

What’s hot in human resources for 2015 to employment at your company. Pat yourself on the back and consider selling points to working for your organization. 4. Employer branding. How are you marketing and branding your organization? You may not have considered it. Well, consider it now. You must. Do you have any rules or policies in place with regard to employees? Do you allow your logoed shirts to be worn to the bar? Are your employees out enjoying a few beverages in your logo? That is fine, but what if they enjoy a few too many? Does that image stick in someone’s head? You bet. Maybe that is fine if you run a bar, but not if you are a health care provider or a day care provider or a teacher. Do us both a favor and begin to consider images and employer branding if you have not already. Start this in 2015. 5. Networking/recruiting. Are you always out there looking for the next great hire? Are you always looking for people to connect with? Who can you gravitate toward to make you or your business better? Are you looking for ways to connect with clients? How much networking do you do in a given week? If you have to think before you answer, then you clearly have not considered it much; and, the true answer is “not enough.” Take the time to think this important aspect through. You are who you pretend to be. Set networking goals for yourself, and make this a focus for you and your business this year. Truly, networking is a trend every year. Now that you are in the know, use these items to better yourself and your business. Own them. Embrace them. Enjoy them — at least some of them. Begin to have that strategic approach to business. Quit making things so hard. “The opposite of networking is not working” — unknown.

ANGELA HOLMES-YOUNG SBJ CONTRIBUTOR

A new year is upon us. My hope is to position you to always be moving forward and never looking back. My advice? Be on top of this year’s trends as they happen. Who knows? You may even be the trendsetter. Use my list of trends to focus on what’s hot in human resources for 2015. Here are five things that I suggest you give both time and attention to in 2015. 1. Data collection. All human resource departments these days are required to collect large amounts of data. If you are not, you are doing it wrong and possibly missing out Holmes-Young on requirements. Not only will data collection assist you in providing the correct amount of data to the governmental entities that require it, but the data you collect can and should be used by you to further along your efforts to manage. Don’t let data collection overwhelm you and slow you down. Instead, use the mechanisms and processes that you already have in place to collect the needed data and use it all to your advantage. After all, knowledge is power. 2. Retention. What is your turnover? You have heard me preach on this before. Why is your turnover so high? What are you doing to retain these employees? Which manager has the highest turnover and why? What analysis are you performing here, if any? After all, this is costing you money. Don’t just throw your hands up in the air and wave them like you just don’t care. You must care about this. Many times, this piece of the business is not tackled because we are afraid of what we might find. Put gloves on and dig in. 3. Benefits. What kinds of benefits do you offer? Probably more than you realize? Are you a small employer? Large organization? Have you or someone else comprehensive list? Have you quantified ever tried to sit down and make a list of this list? Do you share this? Why not? all of the great things about working at Do you pitch all items as benefits in the your organization? A very detailed and

recruiting stage? You should. You probably have a myriad of small items that you are not even considering as perks

ANGELA HOLMES-YOUNG is author of “Bring It On: The Aspiring Professional’s Guide to Getting a Leg Up on the Competition.” Her book is available at Bookworm, iTunes Store, amazon. com and barnesandnoble.com. Angela is also the corporate recruiter for National Railway Equipment Co. (NRE). She can be reached at ang_holmes@yahoo.com or @A_Holmes_Young.

January 2015

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Entrepreneur’s Mailbag

Entrepreneurs take their fair share of credit CAVANAUGH L. GRAY SBJ CONTRIBUTOR‌

‌I recently had a conversation with a young entrepreneur who was looking to expand his business. He had a clear concept and knew what he wanted to do. He had identified a manageable geographic area that his company would service and knew about how much money it would take to successfully reach his goals. His main concern was that he wanted to know what options were available for funding his business. Over the next half an hour, we explored approaching banks and individuals, along with a few other Gray options. At the end of our conversation, we agreed to speak again at a future date. It was only after our call had ended that I felt the echo of that one question I somehow managed to omit: How’s Your Credit?

knew it was time to begin taking it seriously. The first credit report I remember pulling was a true revelation of how little I knew about financial literacy. In the years following, I would learn to monitor and navigate my own pitfalls, climbing my way up the credit ladder. Today, there are many options for obtaining your personal credit information, including your credit card provider, your bank and also the limitless number of independent sites that have popped up over the years.

Is it you?

Regardless of whether you review your credit report regularly, or you are viewing it for the first time, I recommend that everyone take a moment to get their bearings. In a December 2013 report published by The Justice Department, more than 34.2 million U.S. adults over the age of 16 (14 percent) had experienced some form of identity theft. There are a couple of key pieces of information that I recommend paying special attention to at the outset of your credit review. Don’t assume, on first glance, that the name listed is either spelled correctly or is actually you. Double check and make sure. Today’s workforce has become Behind the numbers a lot more mobile, and the likelihood In January 2009, credit card debt that individuals have moved multiple was at its height during the most recent times for work is high. Make sure all of recession. Since then, strides have been your address information is listed in its made in the management of individual U.S. debt. According to finance site Nerd entirety and that it is correct. Make sure your credit report lists accurate employWallet (December 2014), the average ment information, along with all corU.S. household consumer owes $15,611 responding dates. Lastly, give the list of in credit card debt, carries $155,192 in mortgage debt and has an average student accounts, open in your name, a cursory loan debt of $32,264. A recent Inc. Maga- review to see if anything out of the ordinary stands out, and plan to review each zine survey revealed that of the small account in depth later on. businesses looking to raise money in the coming year, 49 percent are considering banks. However, many feel that the lend- Understanding your score ing environment (although improved) Your Fair Isaac Corporation Score, betcomes with tighter lending restrictions. ter known as FICO Score, is the magic Whether you are considering a businumber eyed by both lenders and those ness loan in the upcoming year or not, looking to have credit extended to them. any time is a good time for a review of The score is used by various lending your credit. agencies to assess a borrower’s risk at a particular point in time. The scores range from 300 to 850. The following is Where to start a breakdown: By the time I had finished college, I zz Excellent credit (720-850): A score in made enough of my own credit mistakes and had heard enough about credit that I this range demonstrates to lenders that

you have been responsible when it comes to managing your borrowing. It establishes a long history of no late pays and low balances. Individuals in this credit range usually receive the best rates.‌ zz Good credit (690-720): A score in this range demonstrates overall financial responsibility when it comes to managing credit cards, utilities, mortgage or rent payments and other loans. Individuals in this range may not receive prime interest rates, but will still receive rates that are very competitive.‌ zz Fair credit (650-690): Individuals in this range have experienced some missteps in their credit, including multiple late payments or, in some cases, default. These individuals are very likely to be declined for credit or receive less than favorable rates, if at all.‌ zz Poor credit (350 to 650): For various reasons, individuals in this credit range have had various credit missteps, including running up high credit balances or simply having a long history of missed or late payments. Individuals in this range are likely to be denied credit.‌ zz No credit (0 to 350): Individuals in this category have yet to establish any significant credit and are likely to be turned down for a loan until they have managed to establish a credit track record of their own.‌

Taking full account

At this point, you’re probably thinking, “Hey, I have perfect credit. My business is doing great.” So, this may not apply to

you. If this is your current situation, then I would say congratulations! If your credit situation happens to be less than stellar, then I recommend the following steps: Monitor all credit inquiries. Soft credit inquiries can include employer background checks, personal credit checks or rent applications. Hard credit inquiries include applications for loans, credit cards or mortgages. Too many hard credit inquiries at one time could indicate that you are desperate for credit or unable to qualify for credit, which can significantly hurt your credit. Make sure that all of the accounts in your credit report are actually your accounts. When reviewing your list of credit accounts, be sure to zero in on all derogatory accounts that might be in need of immediate attention, due to poor credit history, delinquencies or overutilization. Credit reports reviews don’t have to be all gloom and doom. It’s important to take note of any bright spots. Do you have any long-standing accounts that look favorably on your overall credit report? Have you significantly paid down or paid off any accounts since you last checked your credit? Lastly, do you have any outstanding credit inquiries that could be cycling off of your credit report in the near future? I’ve always said that managing your credit is like tending to a garden. The reality is that there is no quick fix or amount of money that can fix a credit report in poor standing. It simply boils down to time and consistency. With a little patience, individuals can position themselves and their businesses to receive the credit they need to start, grow and succeed. CAVANAUGH L. GRAY (cgray@ecafellc.com) is director of business development for The Entrepreneur Café, LLC, 877-511-4820. For more information on credit strategies or to read a chapter from his book, “The Entrepreneurial Spirit Lives: 25 Tales to Help Entrepreneurs Start, Grow, and Succeed in Small Business,” log on to www.ecafellc. com. For more information on how to start, grow and succeed in small business, ‘Like’ on Facebook, ‘Follow’ on Twitter @TheECafe or ‘Connect’ on LinkedIn.

Southern Business Journal

January 2015

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January 2015

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Cover Story If you need to make some changes in the way you do business, the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at SIU can help. The SBDC can help new and growing businesses in Southern Illinois expand their customer base, understand the financial health of their business, sell outside of the United States, get their business online, market and use state and federal resources. One-on-one meetings and seminars are offered at no charge. According to Harfst, the SBDC advisors are also a great resource for your yearly business checkup on financial health to assessing customer flow to your website. “You may want to contact web developers who specialize in search engine optimization,” Harfst said. “Those firms may be useful in driving potential customers to their client websites.” The SBDC can help with a thorough business review. “If you are struggling with cash flow, have another set of eyes check it out,” Harfst said. “We have the resources to help business owners take a look.” If your New Year’s resolution is to expand your business, and you are working only domestically, Harfst recommends thinking globally. “Global businesses are growing,” Harfst said. “Ninety-five percent of commerce is

outside of the United States. It may behoove you to look beyond the U.S. as your market.” Harfst also recommends taking a look at your business’s budget and having a new budget in place for the next year. David Powless, manager of Kemper CPA Group, LLP in Marion, offers several ideas for managing your business evaluation when it comes to taxes and laws. Life changes may also change your plans for your business. “If you have a wedding or a divorce, it will affect your taxes,” Powless said. Your marital status counts as of Dec. 31. Retirement can also affect your income. If you turn 70 this year, you may decide to make your minimum distribution for retirement next year, according to Powless. But, he cautions against making plans to “just do what you always did” when it comes to planning for a new year. “What we used to do in the past may not work,” he said. Powless cites the uncertainly of the Tax Extender Bill to be signed by the president. Deductions from the past year may not be available this year. “There are 50-plus items with 500 code changes,” Powless said. “Everybody should be careful about expecting existing things if the president doesn’t sign it.” Because of the late presentation of the bill for signing, he doesn’t expect the tax forms even to be in place by tax deadlines. “The new items are not on the

IRS forms,” Powless said. “The second page of the 1040 form doesn’t have all the lines it needs.” Powless said to expect filing delays while the new forms are rolled out and tax preparers learn the new rules. “Everybody has been sitting around waiting,” he said. “It is hard to plan when you don’t know what to do.” For more information about the SBDC, including a list of workshops for new and existing businesses, visit www.sbdc.siu.edu or call 618-536-2424. DEB SAUERHAGE is a correspondent for Southern Business Journal.

HELPFUL WEBSITES ‌ ww.sbdc.siu.edu w Small Business Development Center—Information on job creation, enterprise development and expansion, business start-up, expansion, financing and business consulting. www.econdev.siu.edu Office of Economic and Regional Development—information on start-up, expansion, financing, entrepreneurship raining. www.illinois.gov/business/Pages/default.aspx State of Illinois—Get information on how to run, expand or start a business. Find information on registration, licenses, permits, laws and regulations. Forms and applications and information on finance and taxes are also available.

SOUTHERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

JANUARY 2015

Cover Story

goal? Do you have a

GOALS Above right: SIU geology professor Ken Anderson poses inside Thermaquatica, a business also now housed within the Small Business Incubator Program in the DunnRichmond Economic Development Center.

The new year is a great time to take a snapshot look at your business DEB SAUERHAGE SBJ CORRESPONDENT

s a new year begins, business owners should take advantage of this season of personal reflection for their companies. While not all businesses may be on a calendar fiscal year, January is a great time for planning and reflecting, according to Kyle Harfst, executive director of Southern Illinois University Research Park and executive director of economic and regional development. According to Harfst, businesses should have two goals this time of year. Take care of business and evaluate. “Get your operating business out of the way. Do what you have to do for the Internal Revenue Service attorney general and secretary of state, including taxes and reports,” Harfst said. “Do those year-end reports.” Just like we have personal goals, your business should have goals. And now is the time for a progressive business review. “The new year allows you to take a snapshot look at your business,” Harfst said. Questions to ask may include the following: Are you making your goals? Are you ready for expansion? How can you get more customers? What is working? What isn’t working?

January 2015

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From the publisher

Ah, the magical, mystical crystal ball

JOHN PFEIFER PUBLISHER‌

‌Ahh, the crystal ball, that magical object that allows us to look into the future with clarity and assurance. For those of us in business, we’re tempted to think the crystal ball is a mere mythical object, that it exists only in Harry Potter-like fiction and that our “logic-based” Pfeifer businesses need a far more “real” foundation upon which to chart the future. This, of course, leads us to stop looking into the crystal ball, forgetting where we’ve placed it or even denying its very

existence. How tragic. At the beginning of a new business year, it’s so easy to look into the future by extrapolating the past, to use last year’s revenue trends as the basis for next year’s forecast. To value the tenure, loyalty and institutional knowledge of the employees we have as the necessary ingredients to get us where we need to be in the future. To again emphasize quantifiable “efficiencies” rather than expecting our sales and marketing professionals to relentlessly identify and exploit opportunities to grow market share. I face the struggles above every day. I think we all do. The temptation to keep our heads down, stay out of the bottom half of peer comparisons and protect what we have today is powerful. Inertia is on its side. So stop already! Take a break from your daily email regimen and start the search

for that elusive crystal ball. Here are the questions to ask it once you find it and polish it back into working order: 1. What will our core function be on Jan. 1, 2016? What will it be two years later? 2. Who will our customers be next year? Three years from now? 3. What geographic or demographic strengths can be built upon? Which areas of weaknesses should be reinvigorated? Which weak products or services (losers) should be jettisoned, and which marginal products and services should be abandoned and left for our competitors to waste their time with? 4. What niche opportunities exist for expansion? Then, when we have a pretty good handle on answers to these questions, we ask ourselves the two biggies: 1) How do we – and our senior leaders and our customer-facing employees – spend

our time? And 2) Do we have the talents and skills necessary to accomplish those things that the crystal ball revealed? And, if not, how do we find them? I’d say, “That’s it,” but it’s a lot. A very lot. It will involve ignoring the merely operational aspects of your business. It will necessitate losing our smartphones for hours at a time. It will require a little less “acting” and a lot more “thinking,” and it will be difficult to focus on a future that extends beyond next month’s financials. But it is necessary and will be beneficial. For me, writing this column was very easy. Following my own advice, far less so. It’s time to get to it. Happy Business New Year! JOHN PFEIFER is publisher of Southern Business Journal and The Southern Illinoisan.

Inside

Directory of Advertisers

JANUARY 2015

John A. Logan College .............16

ENTREPRENEUR’S MAILBAG

INVESTMENTS

How is your credit growing? Managing your credit is like tending to a garden. The reality is that there is no quick fix or amount of money that can fix a credit report in poor standing. It simply boils down to time and consistency.

Protecting your biggest asset: Doing without long-term disability coverage can be risky business for entrepreneurs. Why? Because disability insurance policies protect a critical asset — your income.

WORKPLACE

PAGE 7

2015 HR trends: This list from Angela Holmes-Young focuses on what’s hot in human resources for the new year. Check out the five things you need to give time and attention to.

Pepsi MidAmerica.................... 14

PAGE 10

ACHIEVEMENTS

Who’s in the news: Find out who has been hired, promoted or received honors for efforts in business. Be sure to check out our latest Faces in the News collection, too.

PAGES 12-13

SIU Credit Union ....................3, 9

Southern Illinois Healthcare .... 6

PAGE 8

Southern Illinois University ......11

The Southern Business Journal is a publication of The Southern Illinoisan. Contact us via mail at 710 N. Illinois Ave., Carbondale, IL 62901, or at P.O. Box 2108, Carbondale, IL 62903. Also reach us on the Web at www.sbj.biz and via email at SBJ@ thesouthern.com. The Journal is published 12 times per year monthly and distributed by The Southern Illinoisan and www.thesouthern.com. Copyright 2015 by The Southern Illinoisan, all rights reserved. A subscription may be obtained by calling 618-529-5454 or 618-997-3356, or by visiting our website.

Publisher John Pfeifer 618-351-5038

Advertising Alicia Lorenz 618-351-5820

Design and Layout Rhonda May 618-529-5454, ext. 5118

Southern Business Journal

January 2015

Interested in

growing your business– and expanding your customer base?

Consider government contracting and the Illinois Procurement

Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) at John A. Logan College.

The PTAC provides free support to small businesses interested in marketing their products and services to federal, state, and local government agencies.

• Free customized computerized bid matching • Registrations – we take our clients through all steps needed as required by the State of Illinois and the federal government to be an approved vendor • Certifications – WBE, MBE, SDB, 8A, SDVOSB, DBE, HUBZone, WOSB, EDWOSB • Bid proposal assistance • Market Research • Procurement Histories

For more information on how the PTAC can assist your business, 618-985-3741 or email ptac@jalc.edu

John A. Logan College does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, disability, age, or gender orientation.